MI Student Leaders Give Up Lunchtime to Learn Local Lore:

MI Student Leaders Give Up Lunchtime to Learn Local Lore:

Students Share Mason History with Classmates
Mason Intermediate fifth grade gifted education teachers Vicki Chappell and Lynne Hutchison weren’t about to let the City of Mason’s 200th birthday pass without giving their students the gift of knowing their community’s history.

Throughout September, ACT students missed recess and their lunchtime in order to ask questions about Mason’s history from community members like long-time residents David and Marilyn Batche, authors of the new Mason, Ohio Photographic History Book Sally Sherman Caudill and Sherry Federle, and former Mason school board member Marianne Culbertson.

“The speakers were awesome, and we were impressed with the students' great attention and questions, too. Students learned SO much from them! Some students also interviewed other Mason residents about their favorite memories of Mason, Mason history and Mason achievements,” said Hutchison.

Students independently researched Mason history for two weeks in a variety of ways - students toured the Voice of America museum with its iconic WLW tower, talked with Dick and Sarah Yost about their business, and interviewed Don Wolfe and Sallie Nally, descendants of William Mason.

After completing their research, students formed groups and developed 55 Google Slide presentations that they presented to 73 Mason Intermediate classes. Students also made daily announcements leading up to the City of Mason’s Bicentennial that gave a quick history lesson for their peers.

Eddie: Guess what? It's 8 days until Mason's Bicentennial!

Urav: What's our daily fact?

Eddie: Did you know that MI used to be a farm? The Coddington family cleared wilderness to build a farm RIGHT HERE!

Urav: ...And there's the Coddington Cemetery right by MI, by Tylersville Road. That was on their farm, where they buried family members. The tombstones are really old. The sign says 1833!

Eddie: Listen tomorrow for another fact!

Urav: Thanks for tuning in!

Today's fact is one that I bet many of you don't know. Mason had a very important part in working for freedom during WWII and afterward. Maybe you've seen that big WLW radio tower on Tylersville Road, but you probably didn't know that Mr. Crosley, who owned WLW with its strong tower and signal, helped set up The Voice of America station on that road (where the VOA museum is today, by VOA Park). Voice of America broadcasts to all over the world. Back during WWII when it started, it came to be known for telling the truth in reporting news, whether it was good or bad. People around the world listened and learned from VOA, especially people in countries where they don't have freedom of the press. We should be proud that this happened right here, from Mason, Ohio!

As you may know, Mason was founded by William Mason in 1815. He was a Revolutionary War veteran. In 1803, he bought 640 acres of wooded land between the Miami Rivers for $1700 in an auction. But what happened after that? Fortunately, he lived long enough to establish the town. Unfortunately, in 1830, he fell in a well and died. Four years later, the town was renamed Mason. This weekend we will be celebrating Mason's bicentennial, or 200 year birthday. Come to the Community Center for loads of fun!

“I was very impressed with the ownership our students took in celebrating Mason’s Bicentennial. So, when they petitioned me to play our Mason Fight Song throughout the halls on the Friday of the Bicentennial Birthday party, I happily complied,” said Greg Sears, Mason Intermediate Principal. We learn and live in a community with a rich tradition, whose future is bright!"